Portugal drew 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in their opening match at the 2026 World Cup. The disappointing result made headlines not only in the domestic press but also internationally, with outlets taking aim at Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance on the pitch.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain was hit by a barrage of criticism after a display that fell short of expectations at what is his sixth and, possibly, last World Cup.
The newspaper The Independent described Ronaldo as “a statue” and said that Portugal had sacrificed “yet another World Cup to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ego”.
The Telegraph, meanwhile, compared the No. 7’s performance with Lionel Messi’s, rekindling an old debate.
“The day after Lionel Messi showed why he remains in the Argentina squad, Portugal were perhaps given a reminder of why Cristiano Ronaldo should not be in theirs,” the British daily wrote.
For L’Équipe, “In the opening game of Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup, Portugal chose to offer the world a caricature of themselves.”
Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport likewise noted that “the pattern of the game was clear and predictable. In Martínez’s Portugal, in Houston, there was one obvious problem: Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Spanish daily AS wrote that “on his sixth World Cup appearance, the outcome for the Madeira legend was as discouraging as the previous ones. Good players, good intentions, a great reputation… and very little to show for it. The draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo plunges both Ronaldo and the Portuguese national team into the deepest depression.”
Portugal needs to improve “a lot”, according to The Guardian, which criticises both the Portuguese forward andhead coach Roberto Martínez.
“If they decide to keep Ronaldo on the pitch – and nothing I’ve seen from Martínez suggests he has the will or courage to leave him out – I’d move Bernardo into the middle, push the full-backs on and try to inject some tempo into the passing,” the British outlet recommended.
“The question of what [Cristiano Ronaldo] still has to offer is another matter, and I agree that when I watch him play these days, the difficulties he has moving leave me feeling something between a pang of sadness and a sense of my own mortality. I’d love to see him used as a super-sub,” a fan told The Guardian.
The Athletic wrote that “[Ronaldo] did nothing today which, although not entirely his fault, is not a good omen for the rest of the World Cup.”
Sports broadcaster ESPN ramped up the criticism of Ronaldo, noting that this was the 10th consecutive World Cup match in which the Portuguese forward has failed to score.
The criticism was not confined only to the 90 minutes. “The Portuguese players gathered in the centre circle to applaud their fans. Well, not all of them. Guess who had already headed for the dressing room,” The Athletic wrote at the end of the match.
“It is a fantastic result for the Democratic Republic of Congo – and fully deserved, given the defensive discipline, organisation, spirit and resilience they showed throughout the game,” the New York Times said.
Ronaldo’s performance in the second half came in for even more criticism, with the entire Portugal side starting at a “slow tempo”. According to El País, the moment that made Portugal “lose the little rhythm they still had” was when Vitinha was replaced by Gonçalo Ramos.
Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leão not spared knocks
Cristiano Ronaldo was not the only Portugal player in the firing line. For Marca, Bernardo Silva’s debut was “terrible”: “He only lasted 45 minutes and went off with a yellow card, five lost balls and without creating any danger.”
The midfielder became one of the main targets just hours after being announced as a new Real Madrid signing, making him one of Marca’s principal scapegoats. The paper ran with the headline “Not like this, Bernardo.”
AS echoed the criticism, saying it looked as if Bernardo Silva was lost “in a web of Congolese legs”.
Rafael Leão also failed to convince, with Marca recalling the days when the Portuguese winger was being linked with the biggest Premier League clubs.
“Seeing is believing when it comes to what Rafael Leão has turned into. His World Cup has begun almost as insipidly as his last few seasons. He came on to rescue a blocked Portugal side and did not even show the personality to save himself, it wrote.
João Neves and Vitinha partnership earns praise
In contrast to No. 7, João Neves was widely praised by the international press. AS (source in Portuguese) described him as “Portugal’s most unreadable player”, highlighting his ability to appear in finishing areas, while Marca hailed the Portuguese midfielder as “a global phenomenon”.
Marca highlighted the partnership between the PSG player and his team-mate Vitinha, considered the most influential piece in orchestrating Portugal’s play, noting that together they form an almost perfect double act.
Portugal are back in action next Tuesday, 23 June. This time, the national team face Uzbekistan, who are taking part in the World Cup for the first time.